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Energy Tomorrow is brought to you by the American Petroleum Institute (API), which is the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America's oil and natural gas industry. Our more than 500 corporate members, from the largest major oil company to the smallest of independents, come from all segments of the industry. They are producers, refiners, suppliers, pipeline operators and marine transporters, as well as service and supply companies that support all segments of the industry.

There’s a remarkable reality – among the many benefits of abundant, cleaner-burning domestic natural gas – that mustn’t be lost in the political back-and-forth over this week’s EPA decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan (CPP): The U.S. is achieving CPP’s objectives for reducing power sector carbon emissions – without CPP’s implementation.

It’s true: Reductions of U.S. CO2 emissions from electricity generation are well on their way to surpassing EPA’s estimate that CPP would lower CO2 emissions 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. And it’s being done without CPP, thanks largely to market forces driving the increased use of natural gas in power generation.

API and a number of other groups are pleased to be participating in National Clean Energy Week, which is highlighting readily abundant energy needed to power homes and businesses that’s also helping the U.S. reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We realize not everyone thinks API and some others fit in the clean energy conversation. But the fact is our industry is a clean energy leader, and we lay out the proofs below. Looking at the bigger picture, our industry must be in this conversation because natural gas and oil are the United States’ and the world’s leading energy sources now and will be well into the future.

First, the courts aren’t the place to address climate change policy. This is a complex, global issue that requires global engagement in the public square, not in a courtroom. In this country, elected officials debate public policy issues and then take appropriate action. Lawsuits of the type filed this week tend to serve special interests, polarize people and hinder real solutions.

The second point is action. Contrary to the lawsuit’s assertions, our industry is a leader on climate action, working to reduce emissions as part of a broader solution to those challenges. Since 2000 our industry has invested nearly $90 billion in emissions-reducing technologies– almost as much as the rest of U.S.-based private industries combined and more than twice the amount invested by each of the next three industry sectors.

America’s air is getting cleaner and cleaner, even as the economy continues growing. So says EPA’s latest annual report on air quality, which tracks improvements since 1970. Cleaner air during economic growth, including the ongoing U.S. energy renaissance. That’s news we never get tired of hearing.

We expect that, after all the data and emissions trends are considered, EPA will develop a science-based, cost-effective path to target emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in which methane emissions reductions also are achieved. Industry supports environmental protection and, indeed, is demonstrating that support by taking actions to reduce methane emissions.

We’ve made the strong economic case for repealing the Bureau of Land Management’s so-called “venting and flaring” rule. Yet, just as important is the reality that since its inception, BLM’s rule has been an environmental solution in search of an environmental problem. Here’s what we mean: Methane emissions associated with the natural gas industry fell by 16.3 percent from 1990 to 2015, according to EPA – even as natural gas production increased 55 percent. This is the result of industry innovating new technologies to capture more and more methane, the main component in natural gas. Progress is occurring under existing regulation by the states and EPA, which have jurisdiction over air quality under the Clean Air Act.

U.S. natural gas is plentiful, affordable and reliable energy. Coupled with the environmental advantages of natural gas, our country’s policies should work to ensure its safe, responsible and growing production.

New government data shows that carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation are at their lowest levels in nearly 30 years, and natural gas is the key reason why. The data comes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest Monthly Energy Review, and it shows emissions associated with power generation last year were the lowest since 1989.

The Bureau of Land Management’s “venting and flaring” rule should be repealed, which we’ve urged Congress to do under the Congressional Review Act (see here, here and here). The U.S. House has voted for repeal, and the Senate shouldn’t delay in following suit. BLM’s redundant, technically flawed rule already is having negative economic impacts and could put energy production and important progress on reducing emissions at risk.

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Energy Tomorrow is a project of the American Petroleum Institute – the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry – speaking for the industry to the public, Congress and the Executive Branch, state governments and the media.